Pancreatic islet cell tumor presenting as bleeding gastric varices secondary to splenic vein occlusion

This is a report of a patient with a nonfunctioning islet cell tumor of the distal pancreas presenting with a 12-month history of recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The presence of bleeding gastric varices secondary to occlusion of the splenic vein by tumor was established by endoscopy and selective celiac arteriography. Partial pancreatectomy and splenectomy was performed successfully and bleeding from gastric varices has not recurred over a 12-month period postoperatively.